There are a multitude of causes for auditory trouble in kids. Often, the child eventually outgrows the symptoms. For instance, there may be blockage of the ear canal by a wax buildup or because of a tiny object such as a component of a toy or a pea. A child’s hearing may also be affected by an infection in the ear.
Early Detection Of Hearing Loss In Children
Hearing problems occur during childhood for a number of different reasons. Often, the child eventually outgrows the symptoms. Occasionally the ear canal might become blocked by excessive wax buildup, or it could even be a small foreign object such as a pea or part off of a toy. An ear infection can also affect a child’s hearing.
Approximately 1 in 1,000 babies will be born with impaired hearing. An additional 1 in 1,000 may develop hearing loss before the child reaches the age of 6. The chance of hearing loss developing in a child increases due to various factors. Serious infection, a family history of hearing loss or taking certain medicines before the child is born or shortly thereafter can increase the probability of hearing loss. Hearing loss may develop after a child is born due to a variety of causes.
In particular, babies who weigh less than three pounds are at risk. Babies who need the support of a ventilator for longer than ten days are also predisposed to hearing issues. Certain childhood diseases, like mumps and measles, can cause hearing loss in children as well as chemical substances or injury to the ear or ear canal.
Frequent, recurrent or persistent middle ear infections or chronic middle ear infections are also a common cause. Profound hearing loss means children will not be able to hear speech or any other kinds of sounds. This occurs in less than 6 percent of children who will develop hearing loss. If you need to speak very loudly for your child to hear you when that had never been a problem before you may suspect a hearing loss of some sort.
If other members of your family have no trouble hearing the television or radio but your child seems to have difficulty there might be some hearing loss. Another frequent problem is not being able to hear a teacher during lessons. It can be challenging to check the hearing of a very young child or baby. Parents should make sure a baby is reacting to noise. Infants around 3 months will exhibit reactions to loud noises that might include crying, throwing out their arms or blinking.
By four months of age, a child will generally turn to look for what made the sound. Babies who do not show these developmental abilities should be checked out by a doctor. Children should be scheduled for routine hearing exams in the doctor’s office at between 3 and 4 years of age. This exam is usually done using audiometry, a painless test where the child listens to sound tones through special earphones. As kids progress through school, any hearing loss will probably be detected by their instructors before anyone else.
After school sports coaches additionally might take note if a child is having trouble hearingcalls, signals or instructions from referees. As a parent you have several options to reduce your child’s chances of developing a hearing loss. Immunization against dangerous infections offer some protection. You must make sure that your child always wears a helmet for biking and skateboarding and a seat belt when riding in a car. Doing so will reduce the chances of injury to the eardrum.
Lastly, make sure that your child never cleans his own ears or inserts anything into the ear canal. Seek medical help if your child exhibits symptoms of an ear infection, earache, fever or hearing loss as well as if you feel she is behind in language development.
A particularly high risk factor are children that are born three pounds or less. Difficulties are often seen in babies that must spend ten days or more on a ventilator. As children grow up there are several other kinds of illnesses that can create a hearing loss, such as measles, mumps, toxins, and often physical injuries.
Other common causes are frequent, recurrent or strong middle ear infections or middle ear infections that are ongoing. The acute loss of hearing in a child leads to their inability to decipher sounds or speech that would ordinarily be heard. This level of hearing loss is reported in less than six percent of all hearing-disabled children. If you need to speak very loudly for your child to hear you when that had never been a problem before you may suspect a hearing loss of some sort.
While other members of the family find the volume on the radio or TV is adequate, a child will hearing difficulty will express discontent with the volume level. Your kid might mention that he/she is having trouble hearing the instructors at school. It can be much more difficult to discern if an infant or very young child is suffering from hearing loss. It’s important for parents to monitor the way their children react to all types of sounds. Infants around 3 months will exhibit reactions to loud noises that might include crying, throwing out their arms or blinking.
By four months of age, a child will generally turn to look for what made the sound. If you do not see these reactions, a complete examination with an experienced doctor is in order. Audiology professionals typically suggest that kids get their hearing checked whenever they see their pediatrician. They should be subjected to a more in-depth check when they are about 3 or 4 years old. Typically, this exam makes use of audiometry, which is a painless examination that involves the child listening to noises through earphones specifically made for them. Teachers are often the first ones to notice that a child may have difficulty in hearing.
Sometimes, a hearing loss it detected during an after school program or sports activity if the child does not seem to be hearing signals or instructions from the coach. There are plenty of ways for parents to help children avoid hearing impairment.